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U.S. Embassy Asks Bush Twins to Leave Country
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ShareNovember 27, 2006 1:18 PM
Amid a growing barrage of front-page headlines, U.S. embassy officials "strongly suggested" President Bush's twin daughters, Jenna and Barbara Bush, cut short their trip to Buenos Aires because of security issues, U.S. diplomatic and security sources tell ABC News.
But the girls have stayed on, celebrating their 25th birthday over the weekend and producing even more headlines about their activities.
Officials say the media coverage upstaged publicity plans for the new U.S. Ambassador Anthony Wayne, who had only recently arrived in the country.
THE BLOTTER RECOMMENDS
Neither the White House nor the U.S. embassy in Buenos Aires responded to requests for comment.
The Argentinean press blitz followed a report on "The Blotter" last week that Barbara Bush's purse and cell phone were stolen last weekend while dining at the popular San Telmo outdoor marketplace despite being guarded by the Secret Service.
Stories of the twins' visit took on wild proportions in the Argentinean press. One tabloid headline had the young women running nude in the hallway of their hotel, a report the hotel staff denied to ABC News.
According to sources, the U.S. embassy encouraged the two girls to cut their stay short because the added attention was making their security very difficult.
But to the dismay and anger of some U.S. embassy and security staff, the girls stayed on.
Thursday night, an ABC News producer was able to walk into their hotel unchecked and engage Barbara Bush in conversation while she checked her e-mail on a computer in the lobby. Jenna sat talking with friends on a sofa nearby. No Secret Service agents were anywhere to be seen in the lobby, according to ABC News' Joe Goldman.
And yesterday the Bush twins were spotted at the Sunday soccer matches, wearing team jerseys and sitting in the owner's box, watching Argentina's top team Boca Juniors compete. Several games have been canceled due to violence in the crowds this year. In fact, last weekend no spectators were allowed to attend the match other than season ticket holders.
Sources tell ABC News the twins plan to stick to their original itinerary and stay in Buenos Aires until Thursday.
***
Official response from the US Embassy in Argentina:
We have seen a report from news sources stating that Embassy officials strongly suggested that President Bush’s daughters curtail their visit in Argentina.
This is false, as are other aspects of the report referring to the Embassy’s position on the visit.
The Embassy welcomes the visit and has provided close support and cooperation.
November 27, 2006 | Permalink | User Comments (593)
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You really cannot expect these young girls to take their security issues seriously, but their parents, being the President and First Lady, surely ought to be able to order their daughters home. Apparently he isn't any better at being a father than he is at being a President (and this, sadly, from someone who voted for him)......
Signed, Disappointed In Bush
Posted by: Christine | Nov 27, 2006 1:52:08 PM
Spoiled Brats.
Posted by: David | Nov 27, 2006 1:55:09 PM
once again, why is this news? so what they are the daughters of the dumbest leader on this planet? I do not wish them ill but, once again, I personally do not care to know that most likely it is my tax dollars paying for their security and financing a senseless war.
Posted by: Hector | Nov 27, 2006 2:00:04 PM
lol
Posted by: Gerald Patterson | Nov 27, 2006 2:08:18 PM
I read through this article twice. Can you please point out to me WHERE there is substantive news in this drivel?
Posted by: Cliff | Nov 27, 2006 2:10:35 PM
They just young ladies having a good time. Let's not make them a political target because they don't belong in the equation. Leave them alone.
Posted by: carlos a. garcia | Nov 27, 2006 2:12:06 PM
Does no one else find it odd that ABC doesn't have a problem with the fact that these two 25-year-old women are repeatedly referred to as "girls" throughout this article?
Posted by: Daph- | Nov 27, 2006 2:16:44 PM
Looks like they are becoming just like their father — arrogant and cocky.
Posted by: Jamie | Nov 27, 2006 2:29:50 PM
Is USA so bad at security that it cannot guarantee the safety of the president's children when they travel overseas?
Let the young women enjoy themselves. But, why aren't the Secret Service standing watch over them in the hotel lobby?
Posted by: TFG | Nov 27, 2006 2:36:38 PM
"...a report on 'The Blotter' last week that Barbara Bush's purse and cell phone were stolen last weekend while dining at the popular San Telmo outdoor marketplace...."
Which raises the question of exactly what the purse and the cell phone were eating....
Posted by: lefttomyowndevices | Nov 27, 2006 2:37:07 PM
They are spoiled brats. Why would they do anything to help, even if they are being asked to help themselves!
Posted by: Liz Morris | Nov 27, 2006 2:37:08 PM
NOTHING WILL HAPPEN TO THEM. THEY ARE AS SAFE AS THEY WOULD BE BACK HERE IN THE STATES.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THEY HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN GOOD FOR AMERICA'S IMAGE IN ARGENTINA AND LATIN AMERICA.
MOST LATINS SEE AMERICANS AS BEING STUCK UP AND DISTANT. THEY ARE INTERACTING WITH PEOPLE ON ALL LEVELS. THE SOCCER MATCH THEY WENT TO SEE WAS IN BOCA JUNIORS HOME STADIUM, IN A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IS IN THE MOST WORKING CLASS AREA OF BUENOS AIRES.
Posted by: ANTHONY ROMAN | Nov 27, 2006 2:38:47 PM
Who said they would listen to someones advice?
Posted by: bob graham | Nov 27, 2006 2:39:10 PM
Holy Horrors - an ABC reporter was able to talk to Barbara Bush without being attacked by the Secret Service! Like an ABC reporter who covers the Bush's is the same as a random person walking around.
Typical journalists, trying to make up news.
Posted by: biznarich | Nov 27, 2006 2:40:53 PM
It's just sad that the twins don't understand what effect they have on their father - regardless of whether any of us agree with his politics - any public figure and his or her spouse / child will be scrutinized more closely than an average person's family.
That being said, if this is all about upstaging an ambassador, then that is sad.
If it is about national security or our relationship with Argentina, then so be it, get them home now.
Posted by: chris | Nov 27, 2006 2:42:59 PM
WHO CARES?
Posted by: Douglas Lang | Nov 27, 2006 2:43:49 PM
I don't understand what the Bush twins did to warrant the Argentine government to ask them to leave. The government thinks that they are a security risk? What do they think 2 young girls are going to do? Overthrow the government? Start a riot? Over reacting? or Anti-American.
Posted by: Molly O'Neil | Nov 27, 2006 2:44:02 PM
ABC really wants to trash the Bush family at any cost.
I don't remember Chelsea Clinton getting this much scrunity and if so, not in a negative way.
Posted by: Lisa | Nov 27, 2006 2:45:23 PM
If it's true that an ABC producer could engage Barbara while no Secret Service personnel were to be seen, and Jenna was similarly unprotected, this is a very serious and dangerous situation. We Americans don't realize how patriotic and protective of our people we are until the worst happens.
Posted by: AG | Nov 27, 2006 2:47:04 PM
What are these two girls trying to start, another war. We the American people cannot expect the secret service to protect them if they insist on making themselves targets for anyone to take revenge on them for what has happened in the Middle East. Just goes to prove that some of the very rich feel that they are untouchable and get away with anything they want to. Just goes to show also how they were raised without respect for others and their wellbeing.
Posted by: Nancy | Nov 27, 2006 2:48:42 PM
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